Copland could carry on...eventually
COPLAND FC manager Paul Lawrence is refusing to pull the plug permanently on the club despite their withdrawal from next season's Middlesex County League.
A funding shortfall left the Brent-based club - set up as an offshoot of Copland Community College two years ago - in danger of missing the deadlines to enter league and county FA competitions.
But Lawrence, who is also the Wembley school's football coach, plans to pursue other funding options with a view to reviving the team in 2011, possibly playing on site or at Gibbons Recreation Ground.
He said: "I'd hoped we were going to have two teams next season, with a reserve side lower down the league - now we've got none and it's gone from one extreme to the other.
"We were looking forward to next season. For about half of last year we didn't have a regular goalkeeper and that would have made the world of difference - we had two lined up for September, so it's a shame. I'd been led to believe that funding wouldn't be a problem, but nothing's been confirmed and, rather than keep everyone waiting, we thought we'd better make the decision now.
"If things change, we'll get the team started again. The whole experience has been great and we've built up a good rapport with a lot of people, which we'd like to continue."
Copland FC entered the league in 2008, playing their home games at the Pavilion, Stonebridge Park, and winning the Division One (Central/East) title in their first season before finishing sixth in the Premier Division the following campaign.
But chairman Sir Alan Davies stood down following the bonuses scandal that precipitated his resignation as head teacher of the school, whose new head and board of governors will take up office in the autumn. Lawrence hopes to discuss the team's future with them later this year, but he will probably have to rebuild his squad.
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